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Arsenal have just beaten Nottingham Forest 1-0, but not all fans are happy.
The Gunners were nowhere near good enough. They registered zero shots on target apart from Noni Madueke’s deflected strike that somehow found the back of the net.
The first half, in particular, was one of the worst we have ever seen. It lacked quality and urgency, and every move Arsenal made was predictable.
Mikel Arteta had to change something at the break, and he took off Eberechi Eze. That worked in the end because the player who replaced him, Madueke, scored the winner.
However, Arsenal fans are not happy with the decision for one particular reason.
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Noni Madueke is the matchwinner on the day for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest 😅 Give us your reaction to that performance
Eze will be the first one to admit that he didn’t have a great game, and if anyone had to come off at half-time, it was probably him.
However, Arsenal fans have rightly pointed out that the problem isn’t actually the system, it’s the left-wing position under Arteta.
One supporter tweeted: “Eze hooked, and it’s on Arteta. Set him up to fail like he did Martinelli by not putting pieces that complement him. You can’t be expecting these guys to be self-sufficient like they are Messi.”
Another wrote: “Eze is the scapegoat for Arteta’s pathetic ability to coach an attack.”
“Eze is the scapegoat today. Previous seasons it was Martinelli, before that Aubameyang… Same recurring pattern because you simply refuse to face the truth,” said another, highlighting Arteta’s system.
Another Gooner posted: “If the team doesn’t perform, Arteta hooks Eze. If the attack doesn’t click, Arteta hooks Eze. If we have a bad half, Arteta hooks Eze. Always the scapegoat. Absolutely embarrassing how this manager is destroying a player’s confidence.”
“I don’t care for Eze’s performance, but nice that he’s the scapegoat, ain’t it? Always the LW, for three years! Who’d have thought,” said another.
Arsenal look magnificent when everyone is firing, but games like the one against Nottingham Forest exposed the attack once again.
Eze, as many fans have highlighted above, was the scapegoat today, but Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka weren’t any better either. Either of them could’ve come off.
To add to that, Arsenal had just one shot on target all game despite having 74 per cent possession. That is simply not good enough.
Arteta has made Arsenal extraordinary in goal, in defence and in midfield, but the attack has been a problem for a few years now. That has to change if the Gunners want to build a dynasty.